Overfishing in the Pacific Ocean is a large problem of international concern. Overfishing means catching too much of a certain type or types of fish, which has a domino effect on the remainder of the oceanic population. Fishing fleets are two to three times as large as what the waters can support. In many cases, fishing has gone from an enterprise conducted by local fishermen in their local waters to huge fishing boats that scoop up every living creature in their area, whether they are the target or just a fish caught up in the net.
Global Natural Resourses
Global demand for seafood has increased dramatically over the last few years. Seafood once was a relatively inexpensive source of protein, but recent concerns about health and the risks of consuming beef and pork has driven the demand for fish and other types of seafood up. There has also been a recent rise in the popularity of sushi worldwide. It is estimated that the population of Pacific Bluefin tuna has dropped by 96% in recent decades.
A chef shows the head of a 489-pound bluefin tuna sold for the record sum of 155.4 million yen (some $1.7 million) in the New Year’s first auction at Tsukiji Market. The successful bid was about three times the record 56.49 million yen bid in last year’s auction. Photo: Kimimasa Mayama / EPA
Fishing fleets have become much larger and much more efficient in taking everything from the water, including species that are not being fished for with many fish dying in the nets, then thrown back in the water. Palau and seven other island nations have recently banded together in an attempt to control illegal fishing in their waters. Not only are these island nations protecting their own waters, but they have created the world’s first maritime preserves in the international waters between them. Tuna vessels licensed to fish in the waters of these nations are banned from fishing in the international waters. Palau is one example of a Pacific island nation with this problem. The waters of Palau are one of the last places in the Pacific Ocean with a healthy tuna population. Enforcement of fishing laws is a tricky subject, due to the fact that much of the waters are international. One process used by illegal fishermen is transshipment, which means the illegal catch is transferred on the open waters to another boat, making tracking of where the fish came from almost impossible.
World Wildlife Fund
In the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area, none of the sea species are subject to overfishing as the annual catch limits (ACLs) are set at conservative levels. This success in the Pacific Northwest has become a model used in other areas in how to allow fishing to continue successfully without damaging the sea population.
Inland waters have been relatively ignored in the discussion of overfishing in the Pacific region, but account for a great amount of the fish caught in the Pacific region. It is estimated that 80% of those employed as fishermen in China fish in inland waters. Fishing is particularly important in poor nations as fish are the primary animal protein and fishing is important in producing jobs. China accounts for 25% of the inland fish harvest worldwide, and the yield has been increasing by about 3% per year while ocean production has stagnated or declined over the same timeframe. Studies have shown that inland overfishing is more threatened than marine ecosystems. (2)
Overfishing began in the 1970s when new technologies led to intensification of fishing to meet the world’s rising demand. This has led to a shift in the fish stocks, and can be seen in markets and restaurants where traditional favorites such as swordfish and blue-fin tuna have been replaced by wild Alaskan salmon, pollock and Pacific cod. From 1970 to 1995, the number of fishing vessels doubled, and their average size also doubled. GPS devices began helping increase the size of catches.
The fishing industry is of vital importance to the Pacific region. It provides food and protein for local populations, and is a vital source of income. Overfishing is a serious problem that must be addressed before it is too late, both in the maritime region and in Pacific inland regions.
Sources
Allan, J. D., Abell, R., Hogan, Z., Revenga, C., Taylor, B. W., Welcomme, R. L., et al. (2005). Overfishing of inland waters. BioScience, 55(12), 1041. doi: 10.1641/0006-3568(2005)055[1041:OOIW]2.0.CO;2.
Blackford, M. G. (2009). Fishers, fishing, and overfishing: American experiences in global perspective. Business History Review 83(2), 239-266.
DiCosimo, J., Methot, R. D. & Ormseth, O. A. (2010). Use of annual catch limits to avoid stock depletion in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (Northeast Pacific). ICES Journal of Marine Science 67, 1861-1865.
Overfishing in the Pacific Ocean is a large problem of international concern. Overfishing means catching too much of a certain type or types of fish, which has a domino effect on the remainder of the oceanic population. Fishing fleets are two to three times as large as what the waters can support. In many cases, fishing has gone from an enterprise conducted by local fishermen in their local waters to huge fishing boats that scoop up every living creature in their area, whether they are the target or just a fish caught up in the net.
Global Natural Resourses
Global demand for seafood has increased dramatically over the last few years. Seafood once was a relatively inexpensive source of protein, but recent concerns about health and the risks of consuming beef and pork has driven the demand for fish and other types of seafood up. There has also been a recent rise in the popularity of sushi worldwide. It is estimated that the population of Pacific Bluefin tuna has dropped by 96% in recent decades.
A chef shows the head of a 489-pound bluefin tuna sold for the record sum of 155.4 million yen (some $1.7 million) in the New Year’s first auction at Tsukiji Market. The successful bid was about three times the record 56.49 million yen bid in last year’s auction. Photo: Kimimasa Mayama / EPA
Fishing fleets have become much larger and much more efficient in taking everything from the water, including species that are not being fished for with many fish dying in the nets, then thrown back in the water. Palau and seven other island nations have recently banded together in an attempt to control illegal fishing in their waters. Not only are these island nations protecting their own waters, but they have created the world’s first maritime preserves in the international waters between them. Tuna vessels licensed to fish in the waters of these nations are banned from fishing in the international waters. Palau is one example of a Pacific island nation with this problem. The waters of Palau are one of the last places in the Pacific Ocean with a healthy tuna population. Enforcement of fishing laws is a tricky subject, due to the fact that much of the waters are international. One process used by illegal fishermen is transshipment, which means the illegal catch is transferred on the open waters to another boat, making tracking of where the fish came from almost impossible.
World Wildlife Fund
In the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area, none of the sea species are subject to overfishing as the annual catch limits (ACLs) are set at conservative levels. This success in the Pacific Northwest has become a model used in other areas in how to allow fishing to continue successfully without damaging the sea population.
Inland waters have been relatively ignored in the discussion of overfishing in the Pacific region, but account for a great amount of the fish caught in the Pacific region. It is estimated that 80% of those employed as fishermen in China fish in inland waters. Fishing is particularly important in poor nations as fish are the primary animal protein and fishing is important in producing jobs. China accounts for 25% of the inland fish harvest worldwide, and the yield has been increasing by about 3% per year while ocean production has stagnated or declined over the same timeframe. Studies have shown that inland overfishing is more threatened than marine ecosystems. (2)
Overfishing began in the 1970s when new technologies led to intensification of fishing to meet the world’s rising demand. This has led to a shift in the fish stocks, and can be seen in markets and restaurants where traditional favorites such as swordfish and blue-fin tuna have been replaced by wild Alaskan salmon, pollock and Pacific cod. From 1970 to 1995, the number of fishing vessels doubled, and their average size also doubled. GPS devices began helping increase the size of catches.
The fishing industry is of vital importance to the Pacific region. It provides food and protein for local populations, and is a vital source of income. Overfishing is a serious problem that must be addressed before it is too late, both in the maritime region and in Pacific inland regions.
Sources
Allan, J. D., Abell, R., Hogan, Z., Revenga, C., Taylor, B. W., Welcomme, R. L., et al. (2005). Overfishing of inland waters. BioScience, 55(12), 1041. doi: 10.1641/0006-3568(2005)055[1041:OOIW]2.0.CO;2.
Blackford, M. G. (2009). Fishers, fishing, and overfishing: American experiences in global perspective. Business History Review 83(2), 239-266.
DiCosimo, J., Methot, R. D. & Ormseth, O. A. (2010). Use of annual catch limits to avoid stock depletion in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (Northeast Pacific). ICES Journal of Marine Science 67, 1861-1865.
http://globalnaturalresources.wordpress.com/category/overfishing/
http://ecowatch.com/2013/01/09/bluefin-tuna-population/
http://worldwildlife.org/threats/overfishing
Victoria Cifers